For travelers craving nature, culture, and something new, Oulu, Finland emerges as the destination to watch in 2026. Just about every major travel outlet, including Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, and Travel + Leisure, has named Oulu one of the top destinations for 2026! Located just south of the Arctic Circle, Oulu offers nature-filled views at every turn. The summer sun barely sets. The northern lights feel pulled straight from Wild Scandinavia. Also, the EU has designated Oulu as the European Capital of Culture for 2026. This brings a year-long lineup of festivals, art installations, and performances. Finnish design, innovation, and heritage take center stage. The city’s focus on creativity and immersive cultural experiences sets it apart. Read on to discover why Nordic destinations are defining the next chapter of experience-driven travel!

All the sights

For many travelers, the northern lights top the bucket list. Oulu delivers one of Europe’s most reliable chances to see them. Plan visits between September and early April, when activity peaks and crowds stay manageable. Prime viewing spots include Nallikari Beach, Hollihaka Park, and the lakeshores of Pyykösjärvi and Kuivasjärvi, whether you explore solo or book a guided tour.

Beyond the night sky, Oulu invites exploration by foot and bike. Nearly 600 miles of walking and cycling paths weave through the city and the surrounding nature. Starting in June, the Climate Clock expands this network with a public art trail stretching from the city into forests, rivers, and shorelines, spotlighting environment-focused works.

Indoor explorers find equal inspiration. Oulu Art Museum offers contemporary Finnish and Nordic works alongside rotating exhibitions. Expect everything from avant-garde fashion to deep dives into Indigenous Sámi culture.

Creative cuisine & relaxation

As days unfold in Oulu, the focus shifts from landscape to table. Food anchors the experience. Connection follows naturally. Dining feels communal and deeply tied to place. Arctic Food Lab sets the tone through a rotating calendar of seasonal events. During the Summer Night’s Dinner, long tables stretch across the city center. Guests gather over cloudberries, foraged mushrooms, and regional specialties, sharing meals late into the endless evening light.

For a slower, more refined pace, Oula Kitchen & Bar offers a warm contrast. Natural materials frame the space. Nordic breakfasts ease mornings. Dinners linger over sugar-salted whitefish, reindeer tartare, and salmon soup. Nearby, Pikisaari Island invites exploration. Once a boatbuilding hub, the island now hosts artists and studios. Colorful wooden houses line the paths. At Winebar Kurkela, seasonal plates like smoked beetroot soup or Arctic char round out the afternoon, followed by a crisp lager and a sauna session at Mallassauna.

Sauna culture shapes daily life across Finland, and Oulu delivers it in full. Summer visits to Kesän Sauna begin with a hand-pulled raft ride across the water. Steam rises as the sun dips low. Koivurannan Saunalautta glides along the Oulujoki River, pairing heat with cold plunges for the brave. Olosauna offers a sleeker, design-forward take on the tradition.

All these features make Finland consistently ranking among the happiest countries in the world, a reputation rooted in everyday rituals, food culture, and shared experiences. Oulu reflects that mindset through a slower pace and a strong sense of balance, reinforcing its position as one of the most compelling destinations to watch in 2026.

As part of the wider Nordic region, alongside Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, Finland continues to shape global ideas around wellbeing and quality of life. Symrise maintains a strong presence across the Nordics, supporting local cultures and communities through its regional footprint. Explore where Symrise operates and how these regions influence innovation worldwide!

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A growing phenomenon

Did you know that 23% of households worldwide share their homes with pets¹? The booming pet industry includes 522 million dogs and 445 million cats¹. While cats typically rank secondary, 48% of Romanians own cats, giving Romania the highest share of cat owners worldwide¹. Brazil features the world’s most significant number of small dogs¹. 

Interestingly, Millennials with Gen Z dominate pet ownership, with 65% of Millennials planning to acquire a pet by 2025¹. Seventy percent¹ consider pets family members. The global pet treat is expected to grow by 5%¹ (CAGR 24/28 in value) and pet healthcare by 7% for pet healthcare (CAGR 24/28 in value)¹. Read on to explore recent innovations in pet-friendly experiences and little luxuries!

Pet pampering

Pet parents are advocating for a world in which their animal companions are welcomed everywhere— in their communities, places of work, and increasingly, while traveling. Sixty-five percent plan to travel with their pets next year and 47% would cancel a non-pet-friendly vacation. Recognizing the trend, some global hotel chains now cater to travelers and their pets, offering on-demand pet health, wellness, and behavioral support. Expect an uptick in customized adventures for people to bond with their pets, including walking tours, training weekends, eco breaks, spa days, and more.  Travel operators leverage AI to craft personalized travel itineraries, building digital pet-friendly communities and reaching “always connected” pet families. The travel industry taps into pet parents’ $259 billion annual budget as hotels, restaurants, and tours cater to four-legged companions. 

By 2030, the global pet industry—including vet care, pet food, and pharmaceuticals—will balloon from $320 billion to $500 billion annually. Luxury coat care products mark the ultimate indulgence for pets. In 2007, London’s Harrods department store introduced a dog perfume called Sexy Beast. The late Queen Elizabeth II made a lasting impression by launching Happy Hounds dog cologne in 2022. British retailer Space NK offers a dog spray with “crisp top notes,” while Kiehl’s, owned by L’Oréal, sells a cuddly coat spritz for £18. The newest entry, Fefé, Dolce & Gabbana’s first luxury dog fragrance, can be found in a green lacquered glass bottle with a 24-carat gold-plated paw emblem!

Symrise partners for pet food & care

Today’s pet parents involve their animals more than ever, extending their healthy shopping habits to their pet product choices. Symrise leads in creating sustainable, high-value solutions that enhance the well-being of pets and the satisfaction of their owners. At Panelis expert measurement centers, Symrise observes what cats and dogs genuinely enjoy, gathering insights directly from pets. Using Yummypets’ engaged global community data, they also understand owners’ perceptions and buying habits.

Band together to create a better world for pets—fun, accessible, and inclusive. Helping pets and travelers create lifelong memories has become an asset. Share your thoughts below on which pet-friendly developments excite you!

¹ Source: Euromonitor – https://www.euromonitor.com/

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Pet parents around the globe probably agree – our furry companies belong to us as regular family members. From boundless youthful energy to the days when they move a bit slower, pet wellness has become a priority. The pet industry presents creative solutions, from vigilant health monitoring to detecting subtle shifts in well-being, transforming pet care into a seamless joy for all #petparents.

Also in economic downturns, the pet industry stands strong. Behold the thriving trade shows like SuperZoo in Las Vegas. Witness the surge of new products, a testament to brand dedication and the growing demand for pet-related innovation. NielsenIQ said pet mood, stress, and health products experienced a remarkable 34% sales boost. Pet parents yearn for fresh ways to elevate their companions’ well-being. Forbes Advisor’s survey shows that the average US dog owner spends $730  yearly on their dog’s well-being. Read on to learn more! 

Innovations in health monitoring 

In the heart of Los Angeles, Pretty Litter pioneers a crystal-based cat litter that goes beyond absorption. It becomes a health detector, altering colors to indicate urine acidity, alkalinity, or blood presence, an innovative solution for monitoring our cats’ health.

Meanwhile, in France, Invoxia introduces an intelligent collar that understands a dog’s heart. Tracking heart and respiratory rates provides invaluable data for preventive care and monitoring at-risk dogs. Think of it as a personal health monitor for your four-legged friend, delivering unparalleled peace of mind. Enter WisdomPanel, offering home DNA tests for pets. With a simple cheek swab, pet parents can unlock their pet’s genetic makeup and uncover hidden health conditions.

Soothing techniques to comfort pets

As pet parents resume pre-pandemic routines, they observe a shift in their furry friend’s well-being. Cats and dogs can experience stress when left alone, encountering strangers, or facing loud noises. During this transitional period, their mental health requires extra care and attention.

Enter the realm of natural remedies, where essential oils become a topic of discussion for pet products. While debates exist, reports suggest that scents like lavender and chamomile can alleviate anxiety symptoms in pets.

Let’s explore the paw-some solution from UK-based Dogslife. Their calming spray is giving the answer to bringing tranquility to your pup. Whether spritzed on bedding, blankets, or also their coat, this natural spray promotes a state of calm behavior.

Is your paw-tner getting the proper nutrition? 

Pet nutrition trends are soaring, driven by premiumization and humanization. Pet owners crave high-quality foods with human-grade ingredients, reflecting their deep connection with their furry companions.

SuperZoo presented revolutionary ways brands are transforming pet nutrition. Nutrients now come in exciting formats, offering a customized “homemade” feeding experience. Imagine sprinkling powder, drizzling oil, or adding a crunchy treat to your pet’s dinner—a true demonstration of love.

Interzoo in Nuremberg echoed these trends, mirroring the evolution seen in human foods. Sustainability, wellness, and vegan options took center stage, emphasizing conscious choices in pets’ diets.

A new frontier emerges, focusing on functional medicine in the pet food industry. Maev, based in Texas, leads the charge, crafting raw dog foods developed by veterinarians and animal nutritionists. This groundbreaking approach ensures maximum nutritional benefits for our beloved canines.

The pet industry continues to evolve, offering innovative solutions to monitor our furry friend’s health and well-being. Prioritize their happiness and health, embracing the latest in pet care to create a thriving world for them.

Share your favorite way to pamper your pet below, and don’t forget a photo!

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The Globe-Trotting Pet

Have you thought about bringing Hudson (or whatever name he might carry) to the annual family reunion during your summer holiday? While your loved ones might expect your new beau, they are going to meet the companion you love above all others: your puppy! Before you start packing Hudson’s carry-on (doggy designer, of course), we would like to share with you our insights on some of the most over-the-top pet travel, hospitality, and excursions. Even if you decide for others, they could serve as true pet-spiration!

Fur-Friendly Transportation

Norms around pet travel are continuously evolving. Owners see their furry friends as part of their families! Globally, airlines and transportation services are taking note – seizing the pet-friendly niche. For example, South Africa’s domestic airline Lift permits small dogs in carriers to accompany their owners in the cabin, so long as they book one of the airline’s pet-friendly flights.

Meanwhile, in the US, searches for pet-friendly airlines continue to grow. For example, private airline VistaJet launched a full-service pet-accepting fleet. Called VistaPet, the program takes care of arrival requirements, offers pre-flight fear-of-flying classes for dogs, serves healthy in-flight meals, and provides toys to keep canines entertained in the air.

If you prefer other means of transport. Swedish ferry operator Stena Line introduced dog-friendly cabins on its overnight routes between England and the Netherlands. Each cruise offers 15 dog-approved cabins, which always sell out first.

Companies are also helping pet-parents in easing inter-city travel with animals. For example, Shanghai’s PawPaw Pet Taxi exclusively transports domestic animals. All drivers are trained to work with them and can carry pets independently of their owners.

The Pawfect Five-Star Pet Hospitality  

Times have passed eventually, when pets were restricted to staying home when half the family headed out for a holiday. Per Hilton Hotels, seventy percent of pet owners say they prefer to stay in accommodations hosting dogs, cats, and other animal companions. And the brands are finally listening! On the luxurious side, Portofino’s upscale Belmond Hotel Splendido, guests can enjoy a dog-and-me spa treatment (complete with dog-sized fluffy robes) and private canine-friendly shopping excursions at local boutiques!

If you like indoor treats … head over to Sydney’s Pier One Hotel, and spoil your pet with a doggy minibar loaded with dog-friendly snacks. Or take your pup to The Gantry Restaurant for a tasting menu for furry friends. If you need something more relaxing, dogs can ease their post-travel nerves at the Hilton UK with a calming herbal tea and then refuel with a ‘Beef Doguignon’ consisting of brisket, potatoes, corn, beans, and gravy.

While the above may seem quite lavish, budget-friendly travel can also mean pet-friendly travel! Just look to Chicago’s Ambassador Hotel, where visitors receive a map of local dog-friendly restaurants upon check-in. Meanwhile, Airbnb overhauled its pet policies: hosts who allow pets can now add damage protection to properties and incorporate pet fees into listings.   

Pet-Friendly Planning & Excursions

The more pet owners spend their vacation and holiday with their furry loved ones, the more the demand for support services is rising. This includes design-savvy carriers to yelp for dogs, as planning and logistical aids are essential for pet owners.

For short trips, Californian brand Béis makes minimalist bags for small dogs. While Toronto-based Noots reimagines the cat crate as a streamlined bag made from vegan leather.

Keeping up with the theme of an aesthetic approach, the Melbourne publisher Four&Sons produces guides to New York and London, providing a list of pet-friendly and design-focused restaurants, activities, and hotels.

And also bloggers and influencers are becoming valuable pet-travel resources. Notable doggy influencers include Andrew Knapp and Blizzard, and Lul, while cat travel influencers are also rising; see Sponge Cake the Scottish Fold.

How are you planning on traveling with your pets this year? Are you taking them on a road trip or a fancy staycation? Even if you forego the Ritz, plenty of furry-friend accommodation options exist for all budgets and travelers. Let us know in the comments!

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Pet’s Best Friend: The Move towards Hypoallergenic Pet Shampoo

How much do you love your dog? Do you consider him or her a member of your immediate family? Our little furry friends give support, love, affection, and a healthy dose of daily humor. In addition, dogs can gauge our moods and have proven very talented in making a bad day just a little better. This adds to the many reasons why we should treat our dogs well, from food to bedding, and more than ever, bathing.

To make this a truly fun adventure for the whole family, we must observe a few things. For instance, canine skin is more fragile than human skin. Dogs possess thinner skin and hair, making it easier to collect dust, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Meaning that the commercial shampoo you purchase to bathe your pet could cause potential harm. 

In both the U.K. and the U.S., consumers expect gentleness as the first benefit of pet shampoo. In the U.K., the second expected benefit often relates to a shiny coat, while the focus in the U.S. remains on moisturizing, anti-itching, and deodorizing.

So when finding products that help pets feel their best, many hypoallergenic and hypodermic dog shampoo companies focus on pet comfort. This ranges from skin protection, soothing, anti-itching, miracle deshedding, and more. We often associate these benefits with natural ingredients, and many brands take this notion to heart.  For example, Ouai Fur Bebe shampoo created by Jen Atkins, the Kardashians’ hairstylist, contains aloe vera and rambutan seed extract. These ingredients help soothe and re-moisturize a dog’s skin. The formula is also cruelty-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free.

Dedicated, sensitive formulas and products geared toward younger dogs are essential to your pet’s wellbeing. One of the most important aspects is a tearless formula. The Boots & Barkley puppy shampoo, engineered with vitamins A and E, helps control shedding and remains paraben-free. 

And now, Symrise has put a hand (or shall we say paw?) in the ring to create a hypoallergenic pet shampoo approved by veterinarians. All formulas are maximized for performance, naturalness, and mildness. Proven to deliver incredible performances on human hair, the main ingredients also help with many pets’ sensitive skin. 

The preservation system for these shampoos stays modern—free of parabens and MIT, and with a high content of green ingredients like Hydrolite® 5 green (the ideal moisturizer ingredient). The attention to detail regarding safety and protection for pets in Symrise cosmetic ingredients should come naturally to you. Symrise stands as the only fragrance house to have developed a pet-approved methodology. 

Caring for the wellbeing of our pets continues expansion into an industry with an endless amount of growth. Companies note pets’ ongoing importance in our lives, from natural, raw foods to memory foam beds. In the U.S., over 500,000 service dogs are helping their owners. Pets can provide much-needed structure and love in our lives. Of course, every pet owner wants to act in the best interest of their four-legged companion. So, when it comes to itchy ears or smelly coats, Symrise provides the safest, most natural, and protective solution. We love our pets like family, and now the time has genuinely arrived to treat them like it. 

With the pet industry skyrocketing (the current value amounts to $99 billion as of 2020), what innovations do you expect to see next for pets?

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For The Love Of Pet Parents

Today, more than ever, pet owners view their pets as natural members of their family. They take their pups to socialize at parks, cuddle with their kitties in cafes, flaunt their bowtied bunnies. Pets also relieve stress and anxiety, and in the times of COVID lockdowns, they are alleviating social isolation for their owners. All of the love and care that pet owners give to their pets creates a reciprocal reward system of positivity. Creating a happy life for a pet, brings the owners joy and a sense of purpose.

This of course includes well-being for both pet owners and their four-legged companions. The trend has become a global focus for all over the past few years, extending into pet care as well. People seek for comfort, care and health as key benefits throughout their lifestyle and pet grooming routines. Fragrance plays an increasingly important role in these multi-sensory routines. Scientifically developed fragrances for both in-home and beauty routines aim at soothing both pet parents and pets alike.

Fur Babies

Globally, 471 million dogs live as pets with humans. These pups get toys, love, and treats the same way parents care for their children. Instead of having kids, many Millennials have adopted puppies, cats, and other small animals to keep them company while focusing on their careers.

Pet owners invest in giving their fur babies the best life. Pet cameras like Furbo monitor the little darling. Pet parents can see, talk to, and even throw treats to their animals when they are away from home. Monthly subscription services like Barkbox and Chewy’s have grown in popularity dramatically over 2020, delivering new entertainment to pets regularly.

Flourishing Foster Families

For some, pet ownership can get overwhelming, so they tap into temporary pet happiness as an option. Although the number of pet adoptions in 2020 went up 500 % according to ASPCA, experts feel concerned that new pet parents could rethink their decisions as they return to regular routines.

Those who seek the temporary emotional benefits of pets, go to cat cafes, do goat yoga, volunteer as dog walkers, and go to dog parks. These places can help people get their pet share without the financial and time commitment of being an owner. Many of these animal lovers invest in their temporary pets by bringing treats, toys, and animal indulgences along on their visits.

Care as a Pet Parent

Industry forecasters from Globe Newswire predict the global pet care market will reach $358.62 billion by 2027, with sales of grooming services, telehealth, scent-therapy and even clothing on the rise.

Safe for all products has become a priority as emotional attachment to pets continues to strengthen. Pet parents will likely choose the same care options as they would consider safe for themselves. They expect home care, food, and sleeping products to include the same ingredients and standards as they themselves would feel safe using for their own.

Cleaning products like Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner contain an odor-eliminating technology and a bio-enzymatic formula that cleans while protecting natural floor finishes. The product remains safe for pets and homes and ideal for removing stains and odors caused by urine, fecal matter, and other organic substances.

Food products like Ollie Pet Food provide fresh, human-grade food made from natural ingredients that claim to bring long-term benefits for a healthier pup. It contains high-quality meats and superfoods delivered right to your doorstep.

Specific scents prove to have calming effects on dogs. Dogs sense smell 40 % more intense than humans, the use of lightly scented aromatherapy can help calm down dogs’ behaviors. Coconut, ginger, vanilla and valerian scents have shown to lower levels of vocalization/barking, longer sleep cycles and less pacing. . Vitality Extracts offers a product called Peaceful Pup that contains a mixture of dog-safe oils designed to calm pup anxiety instantly.

Pet Parents Dedicate Themselves

Pet parents dedicate themselves to their fur babies, and brands are listening! Becoming a parent of any kind is a big decision, and the decision for a pet requires a lot of continued care. Their animals get the best of the best, human-grade products and services at all costs. 

How have your purchasing patterns changed since being a pet owner? What type of products do you buy to keep your home smelling fresh, avoiding pet smell? Do you consider purchasing pet products that are also safe for any person in your home?
Comment Below.

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Your favorite dog shampoo fragrance might not be his favorite

Did you know that 10 % of a dog’s brain processes olfactive impressions while a human’s only 0.3 %?

That means your dog’s sense of smell exceeds yours 13 times! Dogs’ heightened sense of smell gives them some pretty strong opinions on fragrances, and they often differ from your own preferences. For example, you might love a peppermint-scented shampoo, and your dog rejects the smell. As pet-owners, you want to make sure your dog likes the fragrances you use on or around it and that you choose smells that will make your pup feel relaxed and happy.

Developing fragrances that humans enjoy is much easier than creating fragrances pets will love. We wish pets could tell us what they like or don’t like the way humans can. People are usually happy to tell us their thoughts on which products they prefer for their dogs, and what would dogs tell us if they could talk?

What Pets Want

As much as we wish our dogs could talk, that remains a wish. At the same time they know of ways to tell us what they like and letting us know their preferences. For this reason dogs must approve first any fragrance we consider for a dog shampoo. So, how do we learn what dogs want?

We start with a sniff test. We hold a scented item for a dog to smell. If he sniffs it and continues to show curiosity by coming closer and closer to the scent, then we know that’s a sign he likes it. If we hold out a scented item and he immediately turns his head away, licks at the air, or backs away, that’s his way of telling us he rejects it, and we immediately remove that scent from the selection.

It took us almost two years to finalize our dog-smelling protocol. We wanted to make sure to take into account the different ways dogs talk to us: refusing to smell, licking, time spent smelling and more. Because our furry friends are important to us, we have ethologists (dog behavior specialists) and statisticians conduct our evaluation processes. We rely on them to translate these dog responses and help us better understand them.

We consider a scent to be dog-approved if interactions with dogs have amounted to a good amount of sniffing time, a low refusal rate and a low amount of licking. Once we narrow down the scents that dogs have approved, then we move on to finding out which of these pet owners like the most. 

What Pet Owners Want

When we think about what owners want and what pets want, it definitely goes beyond an Us-vs-Them scenario. As a pet owner, you probably want a shampoo that will leave your pet clean and smelling good. Your pet wants a shampoo that works in balance with its senses. We know of ways to make both you as an owner and your pet happy. After all, we ultimately want our pets to live happy lives.

As a company, ever since our work in 2001 on the iconic Oh My Dog! fine fragrance and shampoo for dogs, we’ve been crazy about making our fur babies smell good. This is a topic that is close to our hearts because we have a passion for creating fragrances that make dogs smell fresh and clean, but at the same time are safe and pleasing for pups.

This passion to please both human and pup is what drives us to keep finding new solutions for pet malodor, and our pet shampoo fragrances are specially formulated and designed to deal with what is commonly known as wet dog smell  We know the timing couldn’t be better! As current global circumstances force us to spend more time at home, a good dog shampoo means you can happily share your space with your pet while getting a handle on your  stinky pet. In other words, after smelling one whiff, the dogs give us a woof of approval!

Our ability to make shampoos that block and neutralize pet malodor comes from doing extensive research, even when we don’t have our furry clients in front of us. Our team developed a world-premiere synthetic dog malodor model that smells exactly like dog. We then use this man-made dog smell to test shampoos for effectiveness. All fragrances by Symrise have been evaluated and have shown to perform well against best-selling products while being cleaner and having stricter formulations for dogs’ safety.

So, what’s next for pets? We’re looking at many opportunities to create fragrances for products aimed at dogs, cats and their owners. We know people are looking for the best products for their pets including fragrances that can be applied directly onto pets, room sprays and litter. Keep checking back. We’ll bring you more information on how we take care of – and love – pets.

Have you noticed a scent your dog loves or hates? What’s important to you; what do you look for in dog shampoo? Drop us a comment below and make our day. 

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In the old days, dogs stayed outside; if they were spoiled, they had a doghouse. We tossed our table scraps in their food bowls and threw them a bone every once in a while. In those days, dogs had a purpose. They kept intruders away, herded farm animals or retrieved game while hunting.

Some dogs weren’t working dogs, but they were a wonderful distraction for the children in the home – a furry friend for energetic kids and a great way to teach them responsibilities. But over the years, there’s been a gradual shift in the way we view our pets. We’ve gone from feeding and caring for our animals to loving and spoiling them. The dog has always been considered “man’s best friend,” but now it’s more of a spoiled furbaby.

From Pet Owners to Pet Parents

Dogs have left the backyard and moved into the house – they’ve moved into the kitchen, onto the couch and into our beds. And, it’s not just dogs. People around the world have turned their cats into their beloved furry children, too! We see this big shift especially in millennials who are now the biggest pet-owning population. They may not be ready to have children, so they bring home a pet and give it lots of love and attention.

Welcome to petrenthood! In the past, pets were for kids; now, pets are kids! Even though one of the most common reasons for waiting to have children is the financial burden, people are spending more money on pet care than ever before. We’re purchasing pets, taking them to the vet, buying them toys and getting them groomed, and we don’t mind. We’re willing to spend the money because we love our pets! 

Pets Are People Too

We love our pets so much, that they’ve taken over social media and become celebrities in their own right. We can all agree that 2020 has been a tough year.

Thankfully, pets can give us a bit of escapism from the exhaustion of social media that tends to feature round-the-clock health reporting and political posts. According to 2020 data from social media marketing company Digital Information World, “Pets” ranks in the top 10 hashtags on TikTok with more than 10 billion views. We’re putting filters on our dogs to make them look like Disney characters, and soaking in videos of pets doing things humans would do. Some of our favorite all-time pet influencers are Jiffpom (the most followed pet on the internet), Grumpy Cat, Doug the Pug and Tuna the Chiweenie. 

Spoiled Rotten

Extreme love has led to extreme care, and spoiling our pets has never felt so good. We’ve all heard of dog hotels and dog spas, but there’s much more than that. There are pet subscription boxes that owners can sign up for to have fresh, organic food or toys shipped right to their door. Those have become exceedingly popular. However, some of the more extreme pet offerings we’ve seen go far beyond the basics. There’s Apollo Peak – a “wine” for dog and cats, so you don’t have to drink alone. Imagine finishing a tough workday and relaxing with your pet – you with a glass of your favorite bubbly, your cat with his saucer of Pinot Meow or your dog with his bowl of Zinfantail.

Some pet owners go as far as to set up dates for their furry best friends. If you’re wondering how, there’s an app for that! It’s called Doggy Datez, a place to help you carefully select a companion for your dog. The app helps dog owners find playmates near them using the “mark your territory” function. Suitable dog companions can be searched, narrowing down choices by a dog’s age, sex, breed and activity level. Then, once your pet finds his perfect mate, they can enjoy their playtime with some background music from Spotify’s pawfect playlist. The music streaming site has launched a range of pet playlists in addition to a new podcast that is intended to calm stressed pets left on their own. The pet-spoiling possibilities are endless as the focus on pet care continues to rise worldwide. Even the popular Chinese social media and e-commerce platform Xiahongshu opened a pet care section in 2019! 

Pet Love in the Time of Covid

In recent months, while so many of us have been homebound, it’s no surprise that pet adoptions are on the rise. Being home, we’re able to walk our dogs more and make sure their needs are met without having to deal with the guilt of leaving them home alone all day. Lockdown has also made many of us realize that pets can be great companions, especially when we’re missing the socialization of being with our family and friends. We all have a primal human need for affection, and pets allow us to express that need for touch. 

So, what’s next for pets? We’re looking at many opportunities to create fragrances that are both safe and pleasing to pets,  for use in shampoos, litters, and even room sprays designed to get rid of any bad pet smells. We know it’s important to consider both the pet’s wellbeing and the owner’s love as we design these pet-approved fragrances. Keep checking back. We’ll bring you more information on how we take care of – and love – pets.

Is your pet your baby? What are some of the most extreme ways you spoil your pet? Drop us a comment below and make our day.  

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